2nd Big Ten POW Goes to Thomas Ohio State junior preseason All-American Deshaun Thomasaveraged 21 points in wins over Purdue and No. 2 Michigan last week. The honor was his second of the season and third of his career. He scored a career-high 31 points against Washington and tallied 25 vs. Rhode Island to average 28.0 points per game over two contests at the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-off Nov. 17-18. Those efforts earned him his second career Big Ten Player of the Week award. Thomas grabbed 10 boards against Rhode Island and eight vs. the Huskies to average 9.0 rebounds over that weekend. Thomas was named the BHOF Naismith Bracket MVP for his performance in the event.

The Michigan State Series Ohio State has won four of the last six meetings with the Spartans and have wins in three of the last four trips to East Lansing. Overall, Michigan State owns the series lead with a 60-52 record and a 36-17 lead in East Lansing. As a ranked team, Ohio State is 20-10 in the Michigan State series. Ohio State is 7-17 against ranked Michigan State teams. When both teams are ranked, Ohio State is 5-6. The teams were both ranked in three meetings last year. No. 11 MSU defeated No. 3 Ohio State in Columbus Feb. 11, 2012. No. 10 Ohio State downed No. 5 Michigan State to claim a share of the 2012 Big Ten regular-season title March 4, 2012, 72-70. The No. 8 Spartans then won the 2012 Big Ten Tournament Title in Indianapolis March 11 with a 68-64 win over the No. 7 Buckeyes. Aaron Craft leads Ohio State in the MSU series with 10.3 points per game in four career meeting against the Spartans. He also is the team's leading rebounder, along with junior classmate Lenzelle Smith Jr., with 5.3 boards a game.

A Look at the Spartans Michigan State enters the game with a 15-3 record and a 4-1 mark in the Big Ten. The Spartans are led by junior guard Keith Appling's 13.7 points per game. Freshman Gary Harris contributes 12.9 ppg. while sophomore Branden Dawson averaged 10.2 ppg. Senior Derrick Nix and junior Adreian Payne hit the boards for just over seven rebounds, each, per game.

Ohio State In the Big Ten The Buckeyes are No. 2 in scoring defense (57.8 ppg.), field goal percentage defense (.379) and turnover margin (+3.7) among Big Ten teams. Ohio State is No. 3 in scoring margin (+16.8), and 3-point field goal percentage (.367). Individually, Deshaun Thomas leads the conference in scoring with 20.3 points per game and is No. 2 in made 3s per game with 2.6. Aaron Craft (4.6) rates No. 3 in assists per game. Shannon Scottis No. 4 in assists (4.6), No. 2 in steals per game (2.0) and No. 1 in assist to turnover ratio (+4.3). Craft is No. 3 in the league (+3.2).

101 Years in Big TenOhio State celebrates 101 years as a member of the Big Ten Conference in men's basketball in 2013. The Buckeyes finished in the No. 6 spot in the 1913 conference standings, the first season of league play. Over the 100 previous seasons, Ohio State has earned 20 Big Ten regular-season titles with 24 NCAA tournament appearances, one national championship (1960) and 10 trips to the Final Four. Eight former coaches and players are members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame while nearly 50 student-athletes have been drafted by National Basketball Association teams, including 23 in the first round.

VOTE Thad MattaThad Matta is one of 48 Division I coaches participating in the third annual Coaches' Charity Challenge, a fan-vote challenge, with the total contributions exceeding $300,000. Matta won the challenge a year ago, earning $100,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. He is once again supporting RMHC. Fans can vote once a day for the next eight weeks: VoteCoachMatta.com.

Ohio State Vs. the Big Ten Ohio State is in its 101st season as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes own an overall record of 742-669 against current league members. Thad Matta, in 13 seasons as a head coach, owns an overall record of 120-48 vs. league members, including a mark of 116-46 record while coaching the Buckeyes. Ohio State is 52-60 overall vs. Michigan State with Matta owning an 8-8 record vs. the Spartans.

Milestones Aaron Craft: Reached 700 career points with 10 vs. Chicago State (744)...reached 400 career assists with eight vs. UNC Asheville ... his 432 career total rates No. 4 all-time, passing Mark Baker with three helpers at Illinois. Curtis Wilson is No. 3 with 475 ... in last five games, Craft has handed out 25 assists with just six turnovers ... has at least one steal in 11-consecutive games and nine combined in the last four contests ... is shooting 82 percent from the foul line (32-39) this season, up from 71 percent as a junior ... a career 73 percent foul shooter (188-256) ... has more career steals (199) than turnovers (186) ... just six steals away from Ohio State career record of 204 (Jay Burson) and one away from becoming just the second Buckeye in history to record 200 career thefts. Evan Ravenel: Scores at a 56 percent clip in two seasons as a Buckeye (86-155) and 57 percent this year (40-70)...he set a career high with 10 rebounds vs. Chicago State. LaQuinton Ross: Makes 77 percent of his foul shots (27-35) this season. Shannon Scott: Scored career-high 15 points vs. Kansas to go with six rebounds, which tied a career best ... has 73 assists this season after handing out 60 as a freshman ... just 17 turnovers have been charged to him this year. Lenzelle Smith Jr.: Connected on 5 of 7 3-pointers vs. Nebraska, a career-best for long range makes in a game ... grabbed 10 rebounds at Purdue Jan. 8 and repeated that effort vs. Michigan Jan. 13, the first time in his career with back-to-back double digit rebound games (3 career). Deshaun Thomas: Reached 400 career rebounds with 10 vs. UNC Asheville, added seven boards at Purdue (446) ... moved into the No. 33 spot in career scoring with 20 vs. Michigan (1,222) ... has 20 or more points in four Big Ten games this season ... John Havlicek is No. 32 in OSU career scoring with 1,223 points, Larry Sigfried is No. 31 with 1,228, Ron Stokes, Ohio State radio analyst, is No. 30 with 1,240 ... Thomas is shooting 77 percent at the line this year (48-61). Amir Williams: Of his 65 rebounds this year, more than half (33) have been on the offensive end ... 60 of his career 127 boards have been a teammate's missed shot ... has made 63 percent of his field goals this year (25-40) and is shooting 58 percent for his career (44-76).